Delivery and detachment system imposing a friction force on a securement wire to minimize movement of an implantable intravascular device

Abstract

Delivery and detachment system for an implantable intravascular device, the system including a securement wire in a passageway of an inner support tube. Imposed on the securement wire is a controlled friction force established within an intentional friction zone created by: (i) reflow of an outer sleeve through side port opening(s) in the inner support tube and into the passageway; or (ii) the securement wire having bend(s) creating an associated point(s) of direct physical contact with the inner wall of the inner support tube. During delivery of the implantable intravascular treatment device to a target site, the imposed controlled friction force minimizing movement of the securement wire relative to the inner support tube, and upon reaching the target site, a force being applied to overcome the imparted controlled friction force and releasing the implantable intravascular device.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A delivery and detachment system for an implantable intravascular device, the system comprising:
 an inner support tube having a passageway extending in an axial direction from a proximal end to an opposite distal end; and 
 a securement wire extending through the passageway of the inner support tube; 
 an intentional friction zone imposes a controlled friction force on the securement wire; the intentional friction zone is located anywhere between the distal end of the inner support tube and a midway point between the respective proximal and distal ends of the inner support tube; 
 an outer sleeve surrounding an outer surface of the inner support tube, wherein the outer sleeve is made of a reflowable material; wherein the inner support tube has defined therein at least one radially inward side port opening intersecting with the passageway; and the reflowable material of the outer sleeve is present in the at least one radially inward side port opening defined in the inner support tube and is present in the passageway of the inner support tube forming an associated point of direct physical contact with the securement wire. 
 
     
     
       2. The delivery and detachment system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a coil disposed between the inner support tube and the outer sleeve; the reflowable material of the outer sleeve is present through the coil. 
     
     
       3. The delivery and detachment system according to  claim 1 , wherein the securement wire is straight. 
     
     
       4. The delivery and detachment system according to  claim 1 , wherein the securement wire has at least one bend therein wherein each of the at least one bend is directly physically contacting the reflowable material of the outer sleeve disposed in the passageway of the inner support tube. 
     
     
       5. The system in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising an implantable intravascular device releasably secured to a distal end of the delivery and detachment system via the securement wire. 
     
     
       6. The system in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a main delivery tube having a proximal end, an opposite distal end, and a channel extending axially therebetween; the proximal end of the inner support tube telescopically received in the channel at the distal end of the main delivery tube; and 
 a proximal retaining tube having a proximal end, an opposite distal end and a lumen extending in an axial direction therebetween; the securement wire extending through the lumen and secured to the proximal end of the proximal retaining tube; the distal end of the proximal retaining tube telescopically received in the proximal end of the main delivery tube. 
 
     
     
       7. A method for manufacture of a delivery and detachment system for an implantable intravascular device:
 wherein the delivery and detachment system includes: 
 an inner support tube having a passageway extending in an axial direction from a proximal end to an opposite distal end; and 
 a securement wire extending through the passageway of the inner support tube; 
 an intentional friction zone imposes controlled friction force on the securement wire; the intentional friction zone located anywhere between the distal end of the inner support tube and a midway point between the respective proximal and distal ends of the inner support tube; 
 an outer sleeve surrounding an outer surface of the inner support tube, wherein the outer sleeve is made of a reflowable material; 
 wherein the inner support tube has defined therein at least one radially inward side port opening intersecting with the passageway; and 
 the reflowable material of the outer sleeve is present in the at least one radially inward side port opening defined in the inner support tube and is present in the passageway of the inner support tube forming an associated point of direct physical contact with the securement wire; 
 the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing the inner support tube having the passageway extending in the axial direction from the proximal end to the opposite distal end; 
 as the securement wire is being threaded through the passageway of the inner support tube, imposing on the securement wire the controlled friction force established within the intentional friction zone located anywhere between the distal end of the inner support tube and the midway point between the respective proximal and distal ends of the inner support tube; 
 creating the at least one radially inward side port opening in the inner support tube; 
 each of the at least one radially inward side port openings extending radially inward and intersecting with the passageway of the inner support tube; 
 assembling the outer sleeve made of the reflowable material about the outer surface of the inner support tube to create an assembly; 
 heating the assembly so the reflowable material of the outer sleeve seeps through the at least one radially inward side port opening into the passageway of the inner support tube creating the intentional friction zone; 
 wherein along the associated point the securement wire being in direct physical contact with the reflowable material of the outer sleeve present in the passageway of the inner support tube. 
 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising a coil positioned radially between the inner support tube with the at least radially inward one side port opening created therein and the outer sleeve. 
     
     
       9. A method of using a delivery and detachment system for an implantable intravascular treatment device; the delivery and detachment system including an inner support tube having a passageway extending in an axial direction between a proximal end and an opposite distal end; and the delivery; and detachment system further including a securement wire extending through the passageway of the inner support tube; an intentional friction zone imposes a controlled friction force on the securement wire; the intentional friction zone is located anywhere between the distal end of the inner support tube and a midway point between the respective proximal and distal ends of the inner support tube; an outer sleeve surrounding an outer surface of the inner support tube, wherein the outer sleeve is made of a reflowable material; wherein the inner support tube has defined therein at least one radially inward side port opening intersecting with the passageway; and the reflowable material of the outer sleeve is present in the at least one radially inward side port opening defined in the inner support tube and is present in the passageway of the inner support tube forming an associated point of direct physical contact with the securement wire; the method comprising the steps of:
 during delivery of the implantable intravascular treatment device to a target site, the imposed controlled friction force minimizing movement of the securement wire relative to the inner support tube; and 
 upon the implantable intravascular treatment device reaching the target site, applying a force in a proximal direction on the securement wire sufficient to exceed the imposed controlled friction force and releasing the implantable intravascular treatment device from the delivery and detachment system. 
 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the delivery and detachment system further includes a coil disposed between the inner support tube and the outer sleeve. 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the securement wire is straight. 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the securement wire has at least one bend therein each bend directly physically contacting the reflowable material of the outer sleeve present in the passageway of the inner support tube.